It's taken three decades but four members of the Cowichan Valley's Anderton-Teasdale family can now boast receiving British Columbia Secondary Schools Rugby Union Commissioners XV jerseys, signifying their exceptional play during their high school rugby seasons and provincial tournaments.
This year, while captaining their respective Cowichan Secondary Thunderbirds rugby teams, twins Iain Anderton-Teasdale and Bella Anderton-Teasdale both earned the all-star jerseys.
The Cow High senior boys team placed fifth of all AAA schools in the province — the school's highest ever rank, while the girls, whose goal it was to medal, had a strong showing, placing third overall.
"It is an honour to be awarded the Commissioners XV jersey this year," the twins said in an email. "Especially knowing that our oldest brother received it and now we also know that our dad did, too."
The accolade is often awarded to a graduating student that has shown exceptional leadership and outstanding play throughout the whole season.
Back in 2019, their big brother Dylan Taylor also earned the coveted BCSSRU Commissioners XV honours following the provincial tournament where he was part of the T-birds squad that took sixth place at the event.
As for the twins' dad, Kim Anderton, he earned his all-star nod back in 1995 while a senior at Highland Secondary in Comox. That year, Highland, a AA school, placed fourth in the province.
"To have received this in 1995, then seeing my son and daughter receive it, was a special moment for sure," he said. "The awarding of these jerseys to my children makes me extremely proud of what they have been able to accomplish on the field as elite athletes and as leaders/captains.
"For me as a player it was the highlight of my high school rugby career as it meant that my coaches had recognized the effort, I had put into training and in trying to be a captain who not only led by example but who encouraged his teammates to be the best that they could be on and off the field."
In other elite rugby news, Queen Margaret's School graduate and Robin MacDowell protégé Carissa Norsten has been named the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series Rookie of the Year.
Norsten grew up in Waldheim, Saskatchewan and after MacDowell saw her play in her first game as a 15-year-old, he recognized her raw talent and convinced her to move to the Cowichan Valley to train at the MacDowell Rugby Academy. She's been up for every challenge thrown her way ever since.
